@nospam: "I've got a couple thousand miles on my '03 M3 Convertible, and I've just
learned about the SMG's "Launch Mode".  You can bet I'll be trying this out
in the morning :), but I have one question:  I heard somewhere (this
newsgroup I think) that BMW will void your warranty if you use this mode too
many times.  Can anyone confirm or deny this?  Why would they include such a
nifty toy and then punish you for using it?
Thanks,
Matt"
    @REMOVEcortez_300b: "<quote>
What exactly does this thing do?
Never underestimate the power of stupid people in large groups.
ICQ: 138579247"
    @nospam: "I had my 03M3 in for it's 1200 at about 2000, and the service rep explained
to me that they like to look over the M3 after the break-in (above and
beyond the oil change) because some people tend to drive it pretty hard (as
if someone with an E46 would drive it like a Honda), and they want to check
up on it early to head off any future problems.  Personally, I don't care,
since they pay for *everything* for the first 4 years.
As for my original Launch Mode question, I'm going to try to get a straight
answer out of BMWNA, but there's nothing in my manual or warranty booklet
about it, so they may have trouble denying warranty coverage.  I don't
intend to abuse the car, but I normally drive in Sport/S6 mode, and it is a
little sluggish off the line while the clutch kicks in; Launch Mode appears
to shave a few tenths of a second off the 0-60, which is handy in stoplight
drags (all in good fun of course).
news:zpThb.71436$<email_address>
<quote>
car
there
10"
    @Eod_m3: "Oh boy, here we go again.  More M3 owners that are completely clueless about
there own cars.  Amazing.
1. It's called Launch Control, not "Launch Mode".
2. Launch Control on US spec cars does *not* void your warranty no matter
how many times you use it.  Warranty issues *only* apply to Euro spec cars.
Period.
3. Using it will not cause damage to your clutch by using more than "2 or 3
times".  That's absolutely ridiculous.  I've used LC *easily* over 50 times
with zero problems whatsoever while putting out at least 40 more HP than you
guys are, which is putting more of a strain my clutch than your car's are.
If my clutch goes, who cares?  That's what warranties are for.
4. The guy that took his car in for it's 1200 mile sevice at *2000* miles is
the reason why people that know better are weary of buying used M3's.
Because people like yourself can't follow simple break-in procedures.  The
M3's engine (S54) is a maxed out 3.2 liter 6-cylinder that has the 4th
highest N/A hp/liter output in the world.  The regular 3-series engines are
not even on the same planet as this engine. It has extremely high tolerances
that require it to be broken in correctly to ensure it runs with it's
maximum power and reliability, without burning oil.  There's a reason BMW
has extremely *strict* break-in procedures (i.e., do not exceed 5,500 rpm
for the first 1,200 miles, do not exceed 137 mph for a sustained period
until 3,000 miles, and a mandatory service at 1,200 miles).  You need to
follow these procedures or you are just hurting yourself in the long run.  I
had my oil changed at 600, 1,200 and 3,000 miles.  Remember, a weak engine
that burns oil due to improper break-in procedures is not a fully warrantied
engine.  If something breaks, yes, they'll fix it.  But they aren't going to
do anything about the lack of power and the burning of oil except give you
free oil to take wth you when you get low.
Okay, now that I've vented, here's the LC explanation:
It is set at 1,800 rpm and pulses the clutch 8 times per second until you
release the SMG lever.  Once released, you get a clutch drop similair to
popping the clutch on a standard manual.
Now, pay attenton since the following may get a little confusing:
If your E46 M3 was built prior to March of 2003, then you also have a thing
called "Burn-Out Mode".  It's initiated exactly the same as Launch Control
but instead of pressing the pedal down to the floor slowly, you stomp it
*very* quickly and the rpm goes to 3,500.  It's not as good as LC since you
will induce too much wheelspin.  Again, for pre-March 2003 cars, slowly
pressing the pedal brings the rpm to 1,800, and quickly pressing it brings
it to 3,500.
If your car was built March 2003 or later (2003.5), then you do *not* have
burn out mode when using LC, only the regular 1,800 rpm LC.
Now, here's where it gets even more confusing:
Regardless of the year of your E46 M3, if you simply put the car in S5 or
S6, take your hands off the SMG lever, and then stomp the pedal as fast as
you can, you will get a 3,500 rpm clutch drop similiar to that of Burn-Out
Mode for the earlier built cars, except you are not using LC to do it.
Again, this has *no* effect on your warranty.
M Power
2003 ///M3 Coupe SMG - 320 RWHP / 375 HP at the crank / 70 lbs lighter than
stock. "I love Corvettes!"  They taste just like chicken".
MODS: GruppeM Carbon Fiber-Kevlar CAI / Eisenmann Sport Exhaust / Super
Sprint X-Pipe / Super Sprint S-Pipe / Evosport Under-Drive Pulleys /
Eurobahn-Superchip Software / Denso Iridium Spark Plugs / Hawker SLA Battery
(35 lbs lighter than stock) / ACS E-Brake and Pedals / Painted Reflectors,
License Frames and Keyhole Cover / Silver Roundels / 30% Tint / Hardwired V1
with remote display in ashtray.
news:<email_address>
<quote>
out
too
such a"
    @nospam: "Thank you for an extremely informative note.  As the author of the question
that started the thread, I must say...
<quote>
    When I first learned of this capability the engineer in me thought of
this as a 'mode' of the SMG.  Thanks for the nomenclature correction.
miles is the reason why people that know better are weary of buying used
M3's.<<
    Well that would be me (it was 1800 actually).  What can I say?  Life
gets busy sometimes and while I'd normally have my assistant take care of
something like this, she's scared to death of the SMG.  I did, however,
observe the break-in instructions carefully, NOT the ones the dealer told
me, but the ones on the windshield sticker from the OEM.  I didn't even push
it into the yellow, even though the 'yellow' jumps up at you in first gear
without warning (something whose purpose I don't understand, but that you
may be able to explain).
release the SMG lever<<
    Yeah, not particularly helpful actually  doesn't seem to do much more
than judicious manipulation of the accelerator.  It'd be fun to try the Euro
version unless all that does is burn rubber (boring).
    What's the point of that?  Before I got used to the SMG there were a
couple rare occasions where I'd break the back loose, but that just reminds
me of some 17-year-old in their Mustang with cheap tires. :)  Squealing =
wasted HP.  No point.
    After some experimentation, it seems to me that the LC on the
American-spec cars really isn't worth much.  It's cute as an 'Easter egg' in
the software, but I seem to be able to do just as well from a standstill by
hitting the gas just hard enough to have the SMG release the clutch, and
then stomping it the rest of the way down.  Pressing any faster just breaks
the tires out.  So although the American LC is cute, I don't think it's
necessary once you're used to the SMG, and have learned to control how
aggressively it releases the clutch by precise and subtle handling of the
gas pedal.  Once you get a feel for it, you can really optimize the way the
SMG behaves and don't need any software tricks to improve it.
    Even in normal driving, I'm always set on Sport/S6, but the SMG won't
shift as aggressively if you're not stomping on it very hard.  I've even
gotten good at backing off the gas just a hair right as you hit the paddle
to upshift and it shifts as if it were in S4 mode.  Now that I'm used to the
subtleties of it, I'm very impressed with the control you have over the
clutch.  You can smooth out the ride for timid passengers, then get a bit
more aggressive without ever messing with the SMG settings.
    Hmmm.  Bet there's a thing or two about your computer I could teach you;
but that doesn't make you clueless.  Posting and reading here is how we
learn, right?
    Sweet.  I'm loving the 333 out of the E46.  How'd you get +40 and keep
the warranty on your clutch?
Thanks again for the well-informed message.
All this M3 talk has me itching for a little 'internal combustion
therapy'... bet there's not much traffic in the canyons just now...
-Matt
news:yAgib.80631$<email_address>
about
cars.
3
times
you
is
are
tolerances
I
warrantied
to
thing
you
than
Battery
V1
just
mode"
    @Eod_m3: "Wrong.  Look inside of a 2003.5 (March '03 or newer)Owner's Manual, or call
your local service dept..  It now includes engine oil as well.
news:rVDib.6725$<email_address>
<quote>"
    @Eod_m3: "Driving like a hooligan is what hurts your clutch?  That's funny.  Knowing
how clutches work, it's definitely the person that constantly slips his/her
clutch to make it smooth that's worse on it than those that drive it hard
without slippage.
news:<email_address>
<quote>
news:<yAgib.80631$a16.15103@lakeread01>...
miles is
...they aren't going to do anything about the lack of power and the burning
of oil except give you free oil to take wth you when you get low."
    @Eod_m3: "2003 BMW Service and Warranty manual:
Page 5, 1200 Mile Service, last 3 lines.  Says Engine, Transmission and
Differential oil right there in front of your face.
Hilarious.
news:Ugjjb.45598$<email_address>
<quote>"
    @nospam: "news:<email_address>
<quote>
 Thanks for the informative post, however, I must take respectful exception
to
danger to the road<<
    I don't know how old everyone else in this group is, but I and probably
a lot of others here learned how to control high-powered motors long before
computers took over and we even had anti-spin control.  Remember 'pumping
the brakes' before ABS?  I grew up driving in snow (dual resident: Boston &
Toronto), and if you didn't learn how to maintain traction, you didn't
drive.
    I like the traction control features, and will turn it back in in
certain situations, and even like how it lets me power off the line into a
sharp turn without the back end breaking out, but if you can't control an
M3/E46 in S6, buy a 330.  I'm not putting anyone down (nor the 330 which is
a fine automobile), but there's no sense paying for the difference if you
will not or can not use it.
    S5 is a little sluggish for me when I want to take full advantage of the
SMG's fastest shifts.  What I don't want to do is take my eyes off the road
to fiddle with the SMG settings when I want it.  To go from S5 to S6
requires pressing two different buttons (one of which has to be held for 1/2
sec).  I much prefer keeping it in S6 so it's there when I want it.
    BTW, S6 doesn't ALWAYS do the 80ms shifts.  If you're not heavy on the
gas, it'll shift like it's in S5 or even S4.  I don't know if this applies
to all the SMG software revs, but the software in my 03M3 definitely takes
into account the accelerator profile when deciding how aggressively to
shift.  I can do an S4 shift just by backing off the gas *a hair* right
before hitting the paddle.  That's actually the way I drive 80% of the time
since it's a more comfortable ride (particularly important with passengers).
BUT... When I want those 80ms shifts, I never have to take my hands off the
wheel.
    If there's rain on the road (we don't get snow here), then the DSC is
helpful, but if you can't control your car without all the electronics,
you've purchased the wrong car.
Respectfully,
///Matt"
{'source': 'USENET', 'other_information': '{"reply_count": 8, "forum_name": "alt.autos.bmw.20140814.mbox"}', 'file': 'data/output/usenet-alt.autos.parquet'}